Ya ESQ I'm sorta in between the two positions I guess. I do feel we need to have a season where we let the young guys develop and show us what they have. I also agree that our cap pain may only be for one season as the cap will move upwards again, in a year when 12.2 million comes off the books in the twins.

Short of blowing the team up this year I am coming around to the idea that tinkering may be the best thing for the long term. Keep the team competitive while letting the youngsters earn their game. So much will depend upon Cory in the net anyway. If he stinks it won't matter what MG does, if he shines then he can keep us in every game including the playoffs.

If Booth stays and shits the bed again we can dump him next year. If he has a bounce back year that can only help us.

I'd like MG to be able to get some decent picks and prospects for whoever he trades. Re-stock the farm team if he is going to keep the core basically intact. We should have a better idea by Dec where the team is heading. Not too long to wait

Hockey Widow wrote:Ya ESQ I'm sorta in between the two positions I guess. I do feel we need to have a season where we let the young guys develop and show us what they have. I also agree that our cap pain may only be for one season as the cap will move upwards again, in a year when 12.2 million comes off the books in the twins.

Short of blowing the team up this year I am coming around to the idea that tinkering may be the best thing for the long term. Keep the team competitive while letting the youngsters earn their game. So much will depend upon Cory in the net anyway. If he stinks it won't matter what MG does, if he shines then he can keep us in every game including the playoffs.

If Booth stays and shits the bed again we can dump him next year. If he has a bounce back year that can only help us.

I'd like MG to be able to get some decent picks and prospects for whoever he trades. Re-stock the farm team if he is going to keep the core basically intact. We should have a better idea by Dec where the team is heading. Not too long to wait

The more I think about it, the more I'm resigning myself to the prospect of the team having to take a step back to take a couple steps forward. You could argue that they've taken a couple steps back already, but you think back to the season Chicago had last year and now look at them.

It seems if there was a year to stock up on picks this year would be it. That said, they're saying 2015 will likely be even better/deeper. I don't know if I wanna think that far.

Hockey Widow wrote:Ya ESQ I'm sorta in between the two positions I guess. I do feel we need to have a season where we let the young guys develop and show us what they have. I also agree that our cap pain may only be for one season as the cap will move upwards again, in a year when 12.2 million comes off the books in the twins.

Short of blowing the team up this year I am coming around to the idea that tinkering may be the best thing for the long term. Keep the team competitive while letting the youngsters earn their game. So much will depend upon Cory in the net anyway. If he stinks it won't matter what MG does, if he shines then he can keep us in every game including the playoffs.

If Booth stays and shits the bed again we can dump him next year. If he has a bounce back year that can only help us.

I'd like MG to be able to get some decent picks and prospects for whoever he trades. Re-stock the farm team if he is going to keep the core basically intact. We should have a better idea by Dec where the team is heading. Not too long to wait

The more I think about it, the more I'm resigning myself to the prospect of the team having to take a step back to take a couple steps forward. You could argue that they've taken a couple steps back already, but you think back to the season Chicago had last year and now look at them.

It seems if there was a year to stock up on picks this year would be it. That said, they're saying 2015 will likely be even better/deeper. I don't know if I wanna think that far.

Chicago has always had Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, and Bolland up front with Keith and Seabrook on the back end. Now they have Saad, Bickell and an improved 2nd D-pairing as well. What they really lacked last year was consistent goaltending and a solid work ethic, the personnel were always there.

I don't see the point of comparing ourselves to the Hawks because they have so much more firepower and depth than we do. Our roster isn't getting it done and we need to make at least one or two big moves.

Island Nucklehead wrote:The Rumour Eklund posted had us moving up to draft Valeri Nichushkin, who is a 6'4 195 pound Malkin wannabe.

Can you provide a link to this rumour.

All I found was this, now I don't visit Eklunds site much and didn't do much digging mind you.

Hey all... It's 2 a.m. in the east and I was just texted by an extremely reliable source.

"You can almost hang your hat on this one, the Canucks look to be the team that will kick start the trading season and the deal could happen much sooner than anyone is expecting," the source continued. "While they are closing in on their coach they are also working like crazy to move into the top four at the draft..in fact they are supposedly mulling over a major offer as we speak."

The source wouldn't give me any further details at this point, but I don't believe Vancouver is the only team who may look to get out front of what may be a chaotic trade landscape two weeks from now...

Even the Canucks blogger on HockeyBuzz doesn't believe Gillis would go after the Russian, referring to it as a smoke screen and the likely targets may be others.

The_Pauser wrote:Not to mention, the Hawks have proven they can win with their 2010 Cup win. We haven't proven anything.

So 16 wins back in 2010 means that much more than 15 wins in 2011?

BTW, the mighty Pens, with Crosby, Malkin, Iginla, Neal, Letang, etc (all of whom are 100% healthy as far as is known).... have scored a grand total of TWO (2) goals against Boston so far. The Pens even won a Cup, which by your logic, "proves".... what exactly? That they can get shitkicked by Boston even more thoroughly than the Canucks can?

Island Nucklehead wrote:The Rumour Eklund posted had us moving up to draft Valeri Nichushkin, who is a 6'4 195 pound Malkin wannabe.

Can you provide a link to this rumour.

All I found was this, now I don't visit Eklunds site much and didn't do much digging mind you.

Well you asked... but it's Eklund so it's 100% falacy and there's no reason for the Canucks to be this aggressive. But I wasn't talking out my asshole so here it is:

Now, while the Canucks stuff is not exactly a scoop, what I was told "off the record" last week, but given the OK to talk about now (and don't ask me why I am allowed to now...it is a bigger mystery to me, but I will never betray a source's confidences) is the Canucks aren't targeting Drouin. They are putting the package out there with the hopes of grabbing Valeri Nichushkin.

Hockey Widow wrote:Ya ESQ I'm sorta in between the two positions I guess. I do feel we need to have a season where we let the young guys develop and show us what they have. I also agree that our cap pain may only be for one season as the cap will move upwards again, in a year when 12.2 million comes off the books in the twins.

Short of blowing the team up this year I am coming around to the idea that tinkering may be the best thing for the long term. Keep the team competitive while letting the youngsters earn their game. So much will depend upon Cory in the net anyway. If he stinks it won't matter what MG does, if he shines then he can keep us in every game including the playoffs.

If Booth stays and shits the bed again we can dump him next year. If he has a bounce back year that can only help us.

I'd like MG to be able to get some decent picks and prospects for whoever he trades. Re-stock the farm team if he is going to keep the core basically intact. We should have a better idea by Dec where the team is heading. Not too long to wait

I think the team under performed this year, more importantly I think the players know they s*it the bed this year so any new coaching voice will improve their play next season....

I think a positive take away from this season is that Gillis has now lost his players agent virginity regarding player loyalty and is willing to deal any player to improve the team...

It was also unfortunate that Kesler got sick on the eve of the playoffs, and worse that he passed it on to the twins who were dealing with the same illness during the playoffs....Maybe the new Johny Canuck third jersey the team is introducing next year will change "Canuck luck"....

The team desperately needs a true fourth line which Gillis can build this off season using kids and little cap space....Size and more size is what I'd like to see on that line...

I think the team needs to rid itself of those players who have built the teams negative reputation around the league and in the eastern media....

I've talked with some of the local writers and asked why they didn't come to the teams defence when it was being attacked by the CBC and other media during the Cup finals in 2011 and suggested that had they done so maybe some of the questionable calls would have gone their way....

Without saying so, the impression I got was that they too tired of some of the antics and they need a fresh new start that comes with some roster turn over....

I think its starts with Lapierre and coach AV and should include at least one of the core players....Too much negative energy spent fighting battles that they can't win....

The core players I'd be willing to move would be any of Kesler, Bieksa and Burrows....And I would offer any of those players in the Luongo deal to make it a bigger deal.....

That Islanders rumor followed by the news that Streit won't re sign makes a Luongo/Bieksa package to Long Island interesting to consider....